diff --git a/semaphore.go b/semaphore.go
index 31183dc75f..8131dfaaae 100644
--- a/semaphore.go
+++ b/semaphore.go
@@ -2,27 +2,29 @@ package influxdb
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"time"
 )
 
+// ErrNoAcquire is returned when it was not possible to acquire ownership of the
+// semaphore.
+var ErrNoAcquire = errors.New("ownership not acquired")
+
 // DefaultLeaseTTL is used when a specific lease TTL is not requested.
 const DefaultLeaseTTL = time.Minute
 
 // A Semaphore provides an API for requesting ownership of an expirable semaphore.
 //
-// Acquired semaphores have an expiration period. If they're not released or extended
+// Acquired semaphores have an expiration. If they're not released or kept alive
 // during this period then they will expire and ownership of the semaphore will
 // be lost.
+//
+// TODO(edd): add AcquireTTL when needed. It should block.
 type Semaphore interface {
-	// TODO(edd): add Acquire and AcquireTTL when needed. These should block.
-
 	// TryAcquire attempts to acquire ownership of the semaphore. TryAcquire
 	// must not block. Failure to get ownership of the semaphore should be
-	// signalled to the caller via the return of a nil Lease.
-	TryAcquire(context.Context) (Lease, error)
-
-	// TryAcquireTTL is similar to TryAcquire, but a specific TTL is provided.
-	TryAcquireTTL(ctx context.Context, ttl time.Duration) (Lease, error)
+	// signalled to the caller via the return of the ErrNoAcquire error.
+	TryAcquire(ctx context.Context, ttl time.Duration) (Lease, error)
 }
 
 // A Lease represents ownership over a semaphore. It gives the owner the ability
@@ -43,11 +45,7 @@ var NopSemaphore Semaphore = nopSemaphore{}
 
 type nopSemaphore struct{}
 
-func (nopSemaphore) TryAcquire(context.Context) (Lease, error) {
-	return nopLease{}, nil
-}
-
-func (nopSemaphore) TryAcquireTTL(ctx context.Context, ttl time.Duration) (Lease, error) {
+func (nopSemaphore) TryAcquire(ctx context.Context, ttl time.Duration) (Lease, error) {
 	return nopLease{}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/tsdb/tsm1/engine.go b/tsdb/tsm1/engine.go
index 0c745721f6..694a06e755 100644
--- a/tsdb/tsm1/engine.go
+++ b/tsdb/tsm1/engine.go
@@ -1124,15 +1124,17 @@ func (e *Engine) compactFull(ctx context.Context, grp CompactionGroup, wg *sync.
 			ttl = lastCompaction // If the last full compaction took > default ttl then set a new TTL
 		}
 
-		lease, err := e.fullCompactionSemaphore.TryAcquireTTL(ctx, ttl)
-		if err != nil {
-			e.logger.Warn("Failed to execute full compaction", zap.Error(err), zap.Duration("semaphore_requested_ttl", ttl))
-			e.compactionLimiter.Release()
-			return false
-		} else if lease == nil {
+		lease, err := e.fullCompactionSemaphore.TryAcquire(ctx, ttl)
+		if err == influxdb.ErrNoAcquire {
 			e.logger.Info("Cannot acquire semaphore ownership to carry out full compaction", zap.Duration("semaphore_requested_ttl", ttl))
 			e.compactionLimiter.Release()
 			return false
+		} else if err != nil {
+			e.logger.Warn("Failed to execute full compaction", zap.Error(err), zap.Duration("semaphore_requested_ttl", ttl))
+			e.compactionLimiter.Release()
+			return false
+		} else if e.fullCompactionSemaphore != influxdb.NopSemaphore {
+			e.logger.Info("Acquired semaphore ownership for full compaction", zap.Duration("semaphore_requested_ttl", ttl))
 		}
 
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)